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1. Sheep Health Management Disease Prevention is the Key to Success Dean Oswald
Animal Systems Educator
Macomb Extension Center
309-836-2265
2. Sheep and Lamb LossesUS -1994 - USDA
4. Health Management Calendar60 Days Before Breeding Shear the ram
Trim his feet / Use a foot-bath
Protect from heat stress
Measure scrotal circumference
5. 30 Days Before Breeding Vaccinate ewes (If problem is present) -Viborio (ovine form) -Leptospirosis -Chlamydia - Enzootic abortion of ewes -Soremouth (rams also) -Foot Rot (rams also)
Deworm ewes and rams
Trim feet and run through footbath
6. 14 Days Before Breeding Flush ewes by increasing the level of nutrition
Turn in teaser ram
7. Breeding Time Measure Scrotal Circumference -compare with earlier measurement
Remove Teaser Ram
Use fertile ram with a marking harness
8. 60 Days After Ram Is Turned In Deworm all ewes and rams
9. 30 Days Before Lambing Shear ewes if you have adequate protection
Deworm all ewes and rams (read labels)
Adequate salt-mineral mix (no copper)
Increase energy level (1lb. corn)
Vaccinate pregnant ewes - Multivalent Clostridium bacterin (CDT-toxoid)
10. 30 Days Before Lambing Use a coccidiostat through weaning (deccox)
Clean barns to bare ground Add 4 - 6 inches limestone (Ag Lime) Cover with fresh bedding
11. 10 Days Before Lambing Begins Set up lambing Pens and Cubicles
Check Equipment and Supplies:feeding tube, castration & docking tools, injectable vitamin E & selenium (Bo-Se), heat lamp, disposable syringes, 7% iodine, surgical soap, delivery equipment
12. Lambing Time Place ewe and lambs in lambing pen
Check udder and teats (wash - soap & H2O)
See that lambs nurse, apply iodine to navels
Give lambs clostridium CD antitoxin if ewes were not vaccinated / Deworm ewes
Inject with vit E and Bo-Se
Check for inverted eyelids
Use heat lamps only if necessary / Dont overuse
Start Production Records
13. Lambing Time Continued Leave in lambing pens 1-3 days (depending upon strength of lambs and mothering ability)
Dock lambs when they are removed from the lambing pens (tetanus antitoxin if ewes not vaccinated)
Consider castrating male lambs at this time
Vaccinate for soremouth if it has been a problem
Group ewes and lambs (small groups)
Later group ewes and lambs by: single, twin, or triplet & feed accordingly
14. 1 Week After Lambing Begins Set Up Creep Feeding Area Use high protein, palatable ration
Place a light over the creep area
Provide leafy legume hay
Keep will bedded
Make several openings for the lambs
Protect feeders from lambs feet
Provide water in or near the creep area
15. 30 Days After Lambing Vaccinate lambs 30 days old with clostridium CDT toxoid
Give booster 2-4 weeks later
Deworm Ewes and Rams
16. 1 Week Before Weaning Remove grain and protein supplement from ewes diet
Allow the ewes access to water twice daily starting 2 days before weaning day of weaning and day after weaning
17. 60 Days After Lambing Wean lambs at about 60 days of age
Leave ewes on roughage (no grain)
Weigh lambs at weaning
18. 2 Weeks Before Going to Pasture Deworm ewes, rams and all lambs that you plan to keep for replacement or sell as breeding stock
Trim feet and run through a footbath
Vaccinate for foot rot if a problem exists(follow label recommendations)
19. Miscellaneous Items: Consider Breeding ewe lambs to lamb at 12-15 months of age. Maintain as a separate group
Dip, spray, or dust for external parasites after shearing.
Keep production records
Use managed rotational grazing, crop residues to extend grazing and reduce feed cost
Clip pastures if needed to control weeds
Develop an efficient sheep-handling unit for your farm